Airliners-India.com

ameya · Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject: Go Air to Delhi.. this morning

I was told that I would have to be in Delhi for next few weeks and to prep for the same. Obviously not happy to leave the comfort of home and go to the 40+ temp of Delhi, I tried delaying the trip, which did not work.
Finally it was decided that I would travel on 28th morning, but a quick look at the fares on Monday morning and office came back to me saying you go on Tuesday morning. A quick search was done, and I wanted to settle for a 7:00am AI flight, but again office is not booking IT and AI, so the choice was restricted to 6E at 7:50 and G8 at 7:55. Again, by the time they booked, 6E fares had shot to 15000 and G8 was at 8700 levels and thus I got my G8 ticket. G8 172 to Delhi, Guwahati, bagdogra…
6E 191 at 7:50 comes from MAA and G8 172 comes from BLR. Both flights are more or less on time. But the difference in experience at the airport is that, 6E now handles these morning set of flights from Terminal 1C where as Go Air continues to take these flights at Term 1B. It would be nice if certain business time flights are boarded thru aero bridge.
I did a quick web checking yesterday and selected window on the west, since it becomes really irritating to be basking in the sum thru out the flight. Few things which I take care of while deciding which side to sit.
Reached the airport at 6:40 and there was a big line to get in at Gate 1 of Terminal 1B at BOM. The CISF has now installed a new scanner at the entrance and was randomly asking people to get their luggage scanned before entering. Post entry, headed to the Go Air web check in and baggage drop area and got my boarding card printout stamped. This was a welcome change, compared to few experiences where the printout is taken by the agent and you are issued a new boarding pass.
Headed for security, which again took time, since only 2 CISF men were on shift and 1 of 2 scanner was switched off. Most of the flights departing from that terminal were on time and the screens showed no major delays. Tried getting some newspapers, the stands are empty the moment they are refilled. Saw some options for food, there is now some retail movement happening in the terminal. Apart from the Café Coffe Day outlet, there is another one selling some local stuff. This part of the terminal, Gates 1 – 8 are allocated to Go Air and Spicejet and the other side is allocated to Jet, jetlite, IndiGo and thus is very busy. I think the distribution of gates is not equal in terms of rush / movements, The Go Air + Spicejet side would be relatively empty the whole day as compared to Jet + IndiGo side.
Go Air had another departure to Chennai at 7:40, and the incoming aircraft came at 6:55 from Chennai, damn, wonder how early people fly these days ! My aircraft came at 07:05 which again is very early than expected. Boarding commenced at 7:30 and it looked like a full flight. Later, I was told the load was 172 / 176.
Go Air, has a EU style business class, the middle seat empty concept. Of the 8 seats 6 were full, which was a pretty decent no. The inflight magazine, talks about Go Business, where in there is lounge access. Inflight meals and assured seat in first two rows, either aisle or window at an additional cost of 2500. Not sure how good a deal that is.
Surprisingly the inflight magazine did not talk about the frequent flyer program we discussed some days back.
The flight was ready for departure well before time and we were chocks off at 07:50 and taxied to rwy 27 without a single plane ahead of us and not waiting for anybody to land, airborne at 08:03
The A330 of KF is not there any more, there was a A330 of AI sitting Lima bay,( Kalina Side) and 2 A32x of KF. The 9W aircraft which caught fire yesterday was just outside the 9W hanger.
Turning right, we had an uneventful flight and landed in Delhi 10 mins ahead of schedule. Saw the Buddha F1 circuit , since we were holding around that area for a while.
Overall, a decent experience but not yet IndiGo level – which people talk of. The FA weren’t responsive, or quick and had to reminded multiple times that the food you ordered had not come. They were stuck in forward rows only and hence few people in the middle were irritated. The FA grooming and responsiveness needs a big boost if G8 has to become a big player – that’s where the service part comes into picture.
Overall its an OK experience, I reached on time, aircraft was clean. ( VT-WAL / Chocolate Color)

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Ameya, thanks for sharing this very quick and prompt report. I often leave it aside for the future, and when I post something, settings, surroundings, events - are all stale, and the situation has changed. Your traveller's view of G8 was quite consistent with the experiences of many people whom I have talked to. It is nice to see the `business' part being well-occupied, though this could be because of the BOM-DEL sector.
Cheers, Sumantra.

Nimish · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 10:03 am Post subject:

Thanks for posting this report. The shortage of crew and the time taken with the buy-on-board programs is definitely irritating, as a lot of the rows simply don't get served on time. I noticed this on 6E as well - on the BLR-HYD sectors.

It's unfortunate that the FAs were not up to par, but that's a relatively easy area to address if G8 wishes to.

Wish you a pleasant stay in DEL and hope you don't get roasted in the heat - stay hydrated and prefer the desert cooler to the AC where you can!
_________________
We miss you Nalini!

ameya · Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 1:18 pm Post subject:

Yes, the business class is more or less occupied because of metro route. Else there is a constant fight between FA and pax who move from row 3,4,5 to row 1 and 2 after seeing them empty

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Nice documented report, Go Air really needs to hike up its offerings on BOM - DEL!

ameya · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:41 pm Post subject: